DECEMBER 2005

Akwilino Lokwar Lopir talks about his life in southern Sudan as a cattle raider.
from BBC Series

I am not sure how old I am, but believe I am about 35 years old. I was born in a village near Mogos town in southern Sudan.

My mother died the day she gave birth to me and my elder brother and sister and I were brought up by my father’s other two wives, who took it in turns to care for

AK-47

From a small child I was taught how to use a gun by other boys and at around nine years old my elder brother gave me an AK-47.

We are pastoralists and livestock – especially cows – are our way of life.

The women take care of the homes, the small boys herd the goats and the big boys look after the cattle.

When I learnt how to use my gun I also started looking after the cattle, which is a big responsibility because sometimes other tribes come and steal our cows.

We in return will go and raid someone else and take their cows.

I went for my first raid with other young men from my village when I was around 12 years old.

It is a day I will never forget: I was scared but you must show bravery at all times.

My brother was also with us but the enemy fought back hard and he was killed.

After every raid you are grateful if you are not killed

Shop

I have a very full life with my new friendssince I moved away from home and took lessons and I am very happy.

I guard the house at night with my gun and in the morning after I’ve finished my chores in my employer’s compound, I open up my shop.

I now even go to Lokichogio in northern Kenya to get things for my business.

Our tribe was neutral during the long civil war which made it easy to get guns, but now it is over it is easier to go about normal business.

Cattle payment

I haven’t stopped raiding altogether. In July I raided the Koroma people of Dima in Ethiopia when I went back to my village.

But I was almost killed, so I don’t want to raid anymore.

I got 37 cows for participating in the raid. There were 25 of us men, two got killed, and we took 300 cows from them.